Chapter Six
I spent the rest of the day with Atlas’s words in my head, with the memory of all three men surrounding me, their scents staining my clothes so that I occasionally got a reminder of that morning’s events. It was distracting.
As much as I liked the men being around, I did appreciate this time to work. I had been a nervous wreck when dealing with the pack, but being able to work, to finally start cooking, reminded me that I was indeed good at my job. I was hired for a reason. I’d applied for a reason.
I liked caring for others, especially when I was going to see the direct, immediate results of my caring when they ate.
Something that had always been missing when working with the OC was getting to see the changes enacted.
I was there before or after a problem. Being more intimate with a pack was exactly why I’d applied for this position, hoping for this chance.
Society tended to say that it was alphas that were over-caring in how they provided for their pack.
I think they only thought that because betas were rarely in packs.
Betas were the true providers, in my opinion.
We provided stability and calm. When betas were in packs, they were the primary chefs and home managers, especially during the times the omegas went into heat.
We were the ones that ensured everyone was constantly safe and healthy.
Sure, alphas protected in the sense of safety, but they were also protecting their pack from other alphas. That felt contradictory to me. Betas only helped.
The sound of the first pack member returning home had my anxiety and excitement mixing together. I’d been in the dining room, setting up the space for dinner, mentally wondering if Atlas had been literal that morning when he mentioned me joining them for the meal.
“It smells good in here,” Oaks said. His voice was loud, obviously thinking I was in the kitchen as he walked right past me.
“Thank you.” I chuckled as he turned around, obviously startled by my location. “How was your day?”
“Perfectly fine. I brought the papers for you.” He waved a folder, although he didn’t hand it to me when I stretched my palm out. “We can go over them after dinner. Sound good?”
“Sure. Everett messaged me and said he was running a little late. I made a little appetizer in case you or Atlas need something to hold you over.”
I’d made a lot of food, actually, because I had hours on my hands and nothing else to do.
In fact, I’d even decided to make a loaf of bread from scratch since it had all day to rest before I put it in the oven to turn it into garlic bread.
I also cut and shaped my own farfalle noodles—my favorite shape.
They didn’t look as perfect as the ones in a box, but I wasn’t a machine, and they’d still taste fine.
For sides, I would’ve liked to have made stuffed eggplants, except they didn’t have any.
The look on Oaks’s face when I’d asked him about it during his lunch break was almost comical.
Instead, I’d decided on parmesan crusted Brussels sprouts, a white bean salad, and roasted apples and squash.
All the time also meant I could do a dessert. I’d decided on a chocolate lava cake with a marshmallow filling rather than a chocolate sauce.
Oaks made a sound, unbothered by the news of a slightly late dinner. Maybe he smelled the homemade red potato chips I’d quickly baked for his appetizer. To me, it was the strongest scent, although alphas had a stronger sense of smell.
I led the way back into the kitchen and portioned out some of the chips for Oaks. He took the bowl, easily munching on the thin crisps. I’d only made them garlic and basil flavored but if he liked them, I could do a barbeque flavor or even make them with sweet potatoes and brown sugar.
“These are really good,” Oaks said.
I gave him a wide smile, happy that he liked them.
“How come you learned to cook so well?”
“Oh, I’ve always cooked. When I was young, my parents insisted I learned so I could be a functioning adult, and that skill became useful when I was at the OC. I used to help new packs learn how to take care of their omega, and cooking was a part of that.”
“Are you still in contact with your parents?”
“Yep. So are all my sisters and their packs.” I saw his question as he chewed so I answered, “I have two older sisters. Both are omegas.”
“Any betas in your parent pack?”
“Nope. You could say I was a surprise to the family.” Honestly, my parents had had no idea what to do with a beta.
I was just grateful that I was at least a girl because if I had been a boy, my moms would have been so confused.
My parents’ pack had a single alpha male, and then four more alphas, and my omega mom. “What about you?”
“I’m the eldest. All of my younger siblings are alphas as well. I don’t really see much of my family, though. They aren’t supportive of our pack.”
“What do you mean?”
He shrugged as if whatever he was going to say didn’t bother him, but I heard the disappointment in his tone as he said, “They think Everett and I are bad alphas for not keeping him at home. They think Atlas is ‘acting out’ by working, essentially putting himself in ‘danger’ in the hopes that Everett and I will force him to stay home.”
“That’s ridiculous. Have they met Atlas?
” That male was not the type to sit by and be passive aggressive.
Honestly, he wasn’t the type of male to sit by at all.
I understood wanting to care for omegas, wanting to ensure they were safe, but never to the point of boxing them in.
Never to the point of worrying so much about their safety that they couldn’t actually live.
That was exactly why I’d helped Hannah. The designation extremists hid themselves behind the buzzwords of protection and omegas, strong holding the rest of society into agreeing with them.
Didn’t we want to keep omegas safe? Of course we did—then why didn’t we agree with them?
Because their safety came at the cost of omegas’ freedoms.
A princess in a tower was safe, but there was a reason that was never her happily ever after.
She always wanted to escape. It didn’t matter that the kingdom would be dangerous.
So long as she had her prince, she was happy.
That was what the elitists got wrong. They harped on the word safety, safety, safety, so much, that people forgot to ask, are the omegas happy?
More so, if the safety of omegas was so important, why was the focus on them and not alphas.
Alphas were the ones putting omegas in danger.
Alphas were the ones with the instincts that they couldn’t fight or ignore—supposedly.
Maybe they should have been the ones ensuring omegas safety amongst themselves.
Oaks chuckled. “They have indeed met my omega. They just don’t listen to him. Or us, for that matter.”
I squeezed his wrist in what I hoped was a comforting gesture. “I’m sorry your family sucks.”
His laughter at that comment was loud, almost making me jump with the heartiness of the sound. “Yeah, well, I made my own family with my pack.”
“I’m glad. And I’m glad Atlas has you.”
“As his alpha?”
I shrugged. “As a packmate.”
Oaks considered my words, his gaze traveling over my face like he was searching for something.
He was silent for so long that I started to wonder if I’d said something wrong.
Then he was moving quickly, setting the bowl down on the counter and stepping closer, his hands coming to cup my face as his lips met mine.
I pulled back immediately, pushing at his chest to gain some distance, my panic twisting around inside me making my eyes wide as I stared at him. “Atlas.” It was all I could get out.
“I would never do anything to hurt Atlas.” He stepped closer, closing the short distance I had put between us. “Of course, he’ll be upset that his “dibs” is being ignored, but I’ll suck his cock good and hard to make up for it.”
Oaks’s words had an effect on me. They hit every nerve ending inside me.
My stomach swooped, my heart started to pick up, and my body literally swayed with need.
I didn’t know what to do with my hands because I wanted to simultaneously reach out for Oaks and touch myself.
The image that his words had planted in my head were heady.
I could see Atlas naked, lying on a bed with Oaks between his legs, sucking on his length. Could hear the moans Atlas would make at the pleasure, could imagine how Oaks would play with his balls.
My eyes closed in a desperate attempt to see more.
The idea of Oaks and Atlas together was more pleasurable than the last time I’d actually been with a man.
Then, I’d had to use some lube and toys, a familiar practice for betas.
But I was fairly sure that in this moment, I wouldn’t have needed any help.
“Tell me I can kiss you, darlin.” Oaks’s words were so close that I felt them on my lips. “I’ve been thinking about your mouth for days, desperate for a taste of you. I can’t scent you, can’t tell if you’re ready for me so I need you to say it.”
“They won’t be upset?”
“Fuck, you’re perfect. No, darlin, they won’t be upset. They’ll be kissing my lips all night just to get a taste of you.”
I couldn’t stop the whimper from climbing up my throat and escaping. I was used to the simple dirty talk like, “Does that feel good,” and, “I’m going to come so hard.” This was like pure arousal flooding my veins and I knew I was going to be addicted to the way it made me feel.
I wanted to feel his lips on mine, wanted it with a sort of desperation I hadn’t known I could feel. My thoughts were solely focused on the idea of Atlas and Oaks together. Would they let me watch? Would they let me ... participate?
“Please, darlin.” Oaks’s forehead pressed against mine. “I’ll beg if you want me to. Just let me taste you.”